Childbearing Experiences Of Women With Asperger Syndrome

Objective:

This pilot study explores the childbearing experiences of mothers with Asperger syndrome (AS).

As knowledge about autism has substantially increased over the last two decades and more individuals have been formally diagnosed with AS, caring for childbearing women who present with this diagnosis may be a relatively new phenomenon for obstetrical healthcare providers. AS is a neuro-developmental disorder that affects key aspects of social awareness and interaction, language usage and sensory integration. Women with this disorder often have little or no delay in cognitive development, have difficulty reading social cues, and sometimes respond awkwardly in normal social situations. They are usually rigid about their routines or rituals and may appear insensitive to the emotions of people around them. All women with AS are not alike and may have additional co-morbidities such as depression, obsessive compulsive, anxiety and/or bipolar disorders. Women diagnosed with AS during their childhood now reaching their reproductive years may have a variety of medical and behavioral therapeutic plans that have important implications for their health and well-being during childbearing. No published research exists to guide clinicians on caring for these women.

Design:

Secondary analysis study

Setting:

Online AS support groups

Sample:

8 women

Methods:

Existing narrative data acquired from participants from online AS support groups who assisted in creating the online questionnaire were analyzed. All identifiers were removed by an honest broker before the narrative data were given to the researchers. An exploratory interpretive qualitative analysis using a constant comparative approach with data immersion was used. Triangulation of data through lay literature and parent-organized websites was confirmatory.

Results:

Several key themes emerged from the analysis of data from the eight women with AS who had given birth: 1) hypersensitivities to sound, light and touch throughout prenatal and intrapartum care; 2) increased anxiety during face-to-face interactions causing ‘shut-down’ and interference with understanding health teaching and counseling; 3) excellent health promotion behaviors and dedication to being ‘good’ mothers; 4) medical and behavior therapies for AS were often altered during the childbearing cycle; and 5) rewarding mother-infant attachment and breastfeeding reported. 

Conclusion/Implications for nursing practice:

Nurses are in key positions to integrate what we already know about women with AS and postulate what their needs may be when providing care during the childbearing period.  Clinically significant information was identified that has implications for tailoring nursing care to women with AS.

Keywords:

Asperger syndrome, childbearing cycle, secondary analysis